4507798: FU_Introduction to Sociology of Religion. Classical and contemporary perspectives

Beschreibung

European philosophy assumed in the late 19th and early 20th century that religion will disappear from the modern world. This assumption has proved to be wrong and Eurocentric. At the latest since 09/11 people talk about a "return of religion"; they mean a political religion indeed. In the National Research Program "Religions, the State, the Society" (NRP 58) the three main trends pluralization, individualization and secularization characterize the religious situation in modern Switzerland. But: What is religion? We will discuss the functional and substantial definitions of religion, as well as the differentiation of "belonging" and "believing" (Eileen Barker). The students will read, present and discuss classical and neoclassical texts of sociology of religion. We will also discuss contemporary religious phenomena such as fundamentalism, religious conversion, charismatic evangelicalism and popular religion (ex. esoteric and spiritual religion). We will follow the position of methodological agnosticism, define religion as cultural construct and a "social fact" (Emile Durkheim) and disregard the philosophical or theological question, if religions are "true".

Ziele

• Introduction in sociological theories with the example of religion
• Basic knowledge of sociology of religion
• Understanding of actual political and spiritual tendencies in global religion

Lehrmethoden

• Lecture & seminar discussions

Voraussetzungen (inhaltlich)

Interest and curiosity!
To read all the texts is mandatory.

Arbeitsmaterial

Reading material will be provided on moodle.

Kommentar

Fakultätsübergreifendes Wahlfach:
Es gelten spezielle Anmeldemodalitäten.